Chapter 16

Diana flew to the address Bruce had given her and immediately understood what he meant about an upper-class abandoned warehouse. The area she was hovering over was the home of the high-tech industries in Gotham. A lot of the warehouses were old, but had been renovated when the internet entrepreneurs moved in to them.

The hide-out of the DoppleGang was in the center of the district and looked no different from any of the other warehouses around it. From high up Diana couldn't tell if there was anyone in there. She lowered herself down to street level and immediately heard the death metal coming from inside the warehouse.

Bruce had told her all she needed to do was walk through the front door and no one would give her any trouble. Since the gang never did any real criminal activity, talking to a superhero like they were real super criminals was the highlight of their lives. Diana had to admit she found their behavior just as strange as any sadistic super villain.

"Are you going to go in?" she heard Bruce's voice ask her in her ear. She was so surprised by it she actually jumped a little. She had forgotten Bruce was watching everything she was doing on camera. She was annoyed he was bothering her for such a little infraction as taking too much time to do something.

"Going in right now," she told him as she walked up to the door. She turned the knob and was surprised to find it unlocked. She was a bit apprehensive about going in, not because she was afraid they would do anything to harm her, but because one of the fanboys might do something stupid that would harm their friends.

Diana flung the door open and took a few steps inside. She was met with one of the most surreal sights she had ever seen. The warehouse looked like a teen hangout with its large screen television that took up one whole wall of the warehouse and its sound speakers hung all over the place. What separated it from the normal teen hangout was the poster and memorabilia dedicated to the Gotham super villains of old.

The gang themselves was an odd assortment of characters. Everyone looked up at Diana the moment she entered, so she got a good look at everyone's faces. Closest to her was a table where four members of the gang were playing poker. She recognized Poison Ivy, Killer Croc, Two-Face, and Black Mask. Each of the four had a particular oddity to them. Poison Ivy looked like a drag queen, Croc was a bald and shirtless man with scales painted onto his smoothly shaven skin. Black Mask was nothing more than a kid in a suit wearing a black skeleton Halloween mask. Two-Face actually looked real, maybe a little too real. Diana couldn't help but think he might have actually used acid to burn his face to look like his idol.

Diana heard the music getting quiet and turned to see the Joker sitting in an armchair, pointing a remote at the stereo. He was wearing a garish purple suit. His hair was colored a pastel green and his make-up made him look more like a clown then the Joker of old she had encountered several times before. The one big oddity she noticed about him was he appeared to have a mustache underneath all the make-up. She was surprised he wouldn't have shaved it off for his costume.

Sitting on his lap was a Harley Quinn that looked remarkably like the one of old. Of course, in the make-up and full body costume anyone could look a lot like the old Harley. Still, Diana wondered if she was another one of the original's children.

The Riddler and Penguin had been playing a video game when Diana entered. It was paused now and the two of them were sizing up Diana. The Riddler was wearing a unitard with a question mark on it while Penguin had on a tux and a black top hat. The two of them looked the most authentic, although, they also had the easiest task.

The biggest omission seemed to be Catwoman. Diana wondered if there was no Catwoman become so few woman would have wanted to hang out with these guys. She was about to ask Bruce if there was a Catwoman in the gang when she heard a voice above her.

"Meow," it said to her. Diana looked up to see Catwoman crawling along a low hanging pipe that ran the length of the warehouse. Diana was shocked by the fact that Catwoman was an absolutely stunning beauty. She was wearing a form-fitting lycra outfit that showed off her curves. She wore no mask, putting her beautiful face on display for the whole world to see.

"I thought the Huntress was supposed to come over and play," she said in her sultry voice. "Instead, we get this spare."

"They were expecting me," she whispered in the hopes Bruce would hear. She had no idea how powerful the mic was he had given her. "At least, they were expecting someone," she added.

"Have no fear, I'll stop her," a man's voice shouted from above Catwoman. Diana looked up to see someone in a Bat costume on a catwalk near the ceiling. He was obviously Man-bat. He spread his wings and Diana feared he was about to jump.

"Stay still, he'll be okay," Bruce told her. "Look down," he instructed her. Diana did as she was told and found a pile of mattresses on the floor underneath the man.

"I need you to stay calm and focused," Bruce said. "Don't get distracted by the craziness around you. Some complex plan is being carried out by this gang and we need to find out what it is."

The man in the Bat costume landed on the mattress pile unharmed. "Dammit," the Joker exclaimed. "Who moved the mattresses back there after I tried to throw them away?"

Diana wasn't sure if the Joker was telling the truth or was just trying to do something to act like the Joker of old. "He's the leader and spokesman of the group," she heard Bruce say. "Speak with him."

Diana slowly walked up to the Joker. As she neared him and got a better look at him, she was surprised by how old he looked. "Be blunt with him, cut right to the chase," Bruce told her.

"It looks like you were expecting Huntress to come and speak with you," Diana looked back at Catwoman, who was now hanging upside down from the pipe. "Why did you think someone was going to come by to speak with you?"

The Joker seemed worried by what she was asking. The fact he did not get the superhero he was expecting must have thrown him off track. "We're nasty super villains," he said with a snarl. "Heroes are always coming by to see what we're up to."

The Joker didn't convince anyone with his words. Harley was trying her best to keep from laughing at him. "From your activity the last couple weeks it looks like you were trying to send Huntress a message." Wonder Woman spoke on her own without waiting for Bruce to feed her anything.

"Twist the knife, as if there is a message you can give Huntress," Bruce told her. He seemed pleased with the tact she was taking.

"Is there is a message you want me to deliver to Huntress?" she asked. "She is going to be gone for a while, but I'm sure I will remember to give it to her whenever she gets back."

The Joker's face turned an even lighter shade of white. He was obviously worried about hearing the news Diana had delivered to him. She wondered why Helena was so important to whatever they had planned.

"There's no message," he said nervously.

"Don't worry about bothering with them anymore," Bruce said. "We got as much out of them as we are going to."

Diana was skeptical about what Bruce said, but felt like she should put her trust in him and do what he suggested. "Well, if any of you ever want to talk with me, just rob a place and wait for me to show up." She looked around at all of them to see if anyone had something to add, but they all stayed silent. Diana left the way she came in and flew back to the Batcave.

Helena walked briskly through the halls of the palace. Rheandr'a walked behind her. The teen had trouble keeping up with Helena as her tight dress made it difficult for her to walk.

Helena was wearing a formal Amazonian toga and felt great having some actual freedom of movement. "There is still time to change into something more formal," Rheandr'a said as she walked behind her.

"In my culture this is formalwear," she answered. Helena was trying to find her way to the great hall and was having difficulty doing it. Rheandr'a wasn't going to show her the way until she had put on the right clothes, so Helena had to find the right place from her limited memory of her time at the palace ten years earlier.

Helena had to stop for a moment and get her bearings. Rheandr'a took the chance to get in front of her and plead her case. "Since you're on Tamaran and doing Tamaranean business, it just seems fitting you should wear Tamaranean clothes."

Helena suddenly remembered the proper way to go and started walking briskly again in that direction. Rheandr'a followed her, but gave up trying to convince her to do anything. Helena reached the Great Hall to find Maril and Shayera overseeing the decorations and arrangements.

"I'm sorry, Your Highness," Rheandr'a pleaded with her future queen. "I tried to tell Madame Wayne she needed to wear formal Tamaranean clothes, but she wouldn't listen to me."

A broad smile came across Maril's lips as she looked at Helena. When Maril looked over at Rheandr'a her smile disappeared as she realized she should look like a serious queen for her subjects. "Do not feel responsible for this one's misbehavior, she never obeys orders. I will make sure she pays the proper price. You may leave us."

The teen bowed to Maril before she walked out of the Great Hall. "You really are catching on to this whole 'royalty' thing," Helena said to her.

"Is it because I had a little fun at your expense?" Maril asked.

"It's the thing with having people call you 'Your Highness' and refusing to show emotion around others."

Maril appeared stung by what Helena had said to her. Helena realized what she said was kind of harsh and was going to apologize, but Maril started talking. "I don't like it, but I do have certain protocols I have to follow. I have to live up to the office of Queen, I've been told. Being some higher-up everyone treats differently is not something I'm used to." She paused as she looked around at all the decorations that were in the Hall for her upcoming wedding. "Still, having to act stiff and distant isn't exactly the worst thing about being queen."

It took every speck of self-control Helena had to avoid telling them Rex was alive and was the emperor that Maril was going to be marrying. She knew both Maril and Rex's mother would be overjoyed at the news. She knew the nightmare they had been living ever since they were told Rex was dead would be over. Helena remembered Rex's wishes, though, and knew he should be the one to tell his loved ones he was alive.

"You okay?" Maril asked her.

"Of course," she replied.

"You looked angry about something," Maril added.

"It's nothing," Helena answered. "So, are we going stand around or are we going to prepare for your wedding and coronation?"

"Ugh, there's so much to do, I don't know where to begin," Maril told the other two women as she looked around the hall.

"Why don't the two of you head outside and make sure everything is to your liking for the coronation, Maril," Shayera said to the girl. "I can handle things here for a while."

Maril looked suspiciously at the older woman for a moment. She took a look around the Great Hall again and smiled. "It will be good for me to put this out of my mind for a while." She lifted off and floated above Helena and Shayera. "Why don't you join me outside, Helena?" Maril flew out the nearest window and headed in the direction of the reflecting pool where her coronation was to take place.

"You sure you're going to be okay here?" Helena asked Hawkgirl.

"There isn't too much left to oversee," she replied. "Maril just needs me to make sure all the important Thanagarian traditions are followed."

Helena hadn't asked if she would be okay because she was worried about Shayera's workload. She knew it had to hurt Hawkgirl to be planning a Thanagarian wedding for the girl who was supposed to marry her son. Once again Helena wanted to tell the truth that Rex was alive. She refrained from doing so not so much to keep her promise to Rex, but because she was afraid the woman wouldn't be able to take the shock. Shayera always told people she had practically died the day she was told Rex was dead. Finding she had been lied to might be a shock she would not be able to handle.

"You can go," Shayera said to the girl. "I'll be fine here. I won't break down crying uncontrollably."

Helena smirked at the woman's answer. "So you figured out what I was really asking?"

"I know how you and Maril think about me," she said. "You think I've been fragile ever since Rex died; one bad day from breaking down completely and unable to go on living."

Helena felt horrible over Shayera's description of how she was seen. She wasn't completely off-base, which was what made Helena feel so bad.

"Don't feel bad for viewing me that way," Shayera admitted with a sigh. "There have been days, even recently, where I've wondered if I would actually be able to get through the day. I knew of Rex before he was ever born. I don't know if your father ever told you about the trip he took to the future with John. They were following a time traveler and ended up in a future where Rex was Hawkman."

"My father told me about that adventure," she informed the woman. "He told me that almost nothing they saw came to pass."

Shayera smiled awkwardly. "John pointed that out to me as well. Rex was the one exception. John would never tell me anything about him, but your father did. I spent years imagining what he would really be like. As he grew up he fulfilled every dream I ever had about him. He was exactly what Bruce had said he was going to be. The knowledge Rex existed in the future made me complacent, though. Even though little of the future Bruce and John saw came to pass, I believed that Rex couldn't die if he had been alive and a superhero in the future. That is what I was thinking when I let him go to Thanagar. I fooled myself into believing no harm could come to him and he paid the price for it."

Helena could tell Shayera was obviously in a lot of pain. While she knew she could end all the pain the woman was feeling in an instant by telling her Rex was still alive, she stayed silent. She hated herself for it, but knew she had to do it. It caused her to feel pain to think she was failing to relieve Shayera of hers.

"I really let my guard down when Rex left for Thanagar," she said as she looked around at the decorated hall. "He got engaged to Maril and I started thinking about what his wedding would be like. I had started imagining how we might be able to blend Tamaranean and Thanagarian traditions for the ceremony." She let out a heavy sigh. "At least my work is getting put to some good use here. Although, it's hard to enjoy it. I want to be happy for Maril, but it's tough to do when I think that she is going to be in a loveless political marriage."

Tears started forming in Helena's eyes. They weren't tears of sadness, though. They were tears of joy as she thought about how Shayera and Maril would both be ecstatic to find Rex alive.

"I think you should really try and enjoy this," Helena said to the older woman in a soft voice.

"Why do you say that?" Shayera asked.

"I don't know. I just have a feeling that one day you are going to look back on this and be glad you put your heart into it."

"Okay," Shayera said with a skeptical look on her face.

Helena was afraid Shayera might start asking her questions about why she thought the woman needed to embrace the wedding. "I should go, Maril is probably waiting for me," she said in order to leave.

The wind swept through Diana's hair as she rode Troy around the manor. She could tell the horse was enjoying the ride as well. Despite his age he could gallop just as fast as any horse half his age.

After an hour of riding, Diana steered him back to the barn and walked him to his stable. As she did so, Prince neighed loudly, indicating he wanted attention. "Relax, Prince, I'll ride you once I have Troy safely in his stable."

"The horse might have to wait on that," Bruce said. Diana was startled by his voice and shocked she hadn't heard him approach. He apparently still had the stealth technique in his old age.

"Why is that?" she asked as she closed Troy's gate.

"We need to go over your conversation with the DoppleGang last night a little more."

"I thought we discussed everything there was to discuss last night." She was standing in front of him with her arms crossed. She thought he was being ridiculous and she tried to tell him with her body language.

"I've thought of some more details I want to go over. I have the videos queued up on the Batcomputer."

Diana sighed and rolled her eyes. Bruce was always obsessive, but she worried now in retirement he was getting so restless that he was inventing reasons why he always needed to be in the Batcave, or on the computer working an investigation. It was infuriating and it reminded her of why she had left him.

"What more is there to go over? The Joker was obviously thrown off the script he had written for himself by the fact that I showed up instead of Helena. Whatever he was supposed to tell her, he was unwilling to tell me."

"I think he was thrown off so much because he had been fed lines to say by someone else. He clammed up because he wanted to check with someone what he was supposed to do. I found an instant in the video from last night where he glances past you to someone. I need you to look at the direction of his gaze and tell me who in the area he might be looking to for help."

"You're impossible Bruce," she yelled as she walked over to Prince's stable. She just mounted him without bothering to put a harness or saddle on him. She had him trot out and stand next to Bruce so she could talk to him.

"I'm sure the DoppleGang will be at their hangout again tonight. If they are consulting with anyone they will have talked to them and will have something to say tonight. Until then find some good use for your time. You are acting way too obsessive and reminding me why our marriage never worked. She gave Prince a good kick and he galloped out of the barn.

Helena didn't have to do much to help set things up for Maril's coronation. The department in charge of set-up was actually competent for a government agency. They had a detailed plan on what they needed to do and went about completing it with amazing efficiency.

Helena found the setting for the coronation absolutely beautiful. The reflecting pool and the area around it were similar to the reflecting pool in Washington D.C. The water was clear and reflected the orange sky of Tamaran. At the head of the pool was a large tower that for centuries had been used by the royals to address the public. Maril's mother had brought to Tamaran the tradition of inaugural addresses and was the first royal to address the nation after her coronation. Koriand'r had the actual coronation done in the National Cathedral and then addressed the crowd that had gathered at the reflecting pool. Maril was doing things differently in that she was having both her coronation and the address at the reflecting pool. Helena knew all the plans she had for her coronation and was blown away by what Maril was planning to do.

Maril left early to change into her gown and practice her speech. She left Helena in charge to oversee everything, although the committee pretty much ran on auto-pilot. The main job of the workers was to construct the temporary stands to house all the spectators. Along with the stadium style seats they were constructing several towers to serve as theatre boxes for the VIPs. Most of the seats were reserved for the government officials of Tamaran. One was reserved for the visiting Thanagarian delegation, of course, and a couple were reserved for the Justice Leaguer members that had come to support Maril.

As Helena watched the construction of the towers, an idea struck her about the seating arrangement. Since she was in charge she was able to use the nominal authority Maril had given her to place the Thanagarian delegation in the tower across from the one she would be occupying. That way she would be able to watch Rex during Maril's coronation and speech. She particularly wanted to see Rex's reaction when Maril announced she was marrying him.

The workers had everything done well ahead of schedule and Helena was able to briefly check in on Maril before she had to get dressed herself. Maril was wearing a very elegant dress that actually covered her skin, unlike most of the Tamaranian clothes. The dress had a long train that would need to be carried by servants. Maril had originally objected to wearing anything that would require servants to follow after her as she didn't like the idea of how it placed her above everyone and turned the servants into mere props. She had been forced to change her mind after the council of Elders instructed her as Queen she would have to maintain the standards of the office, including the use of servants waiting on her.

Maril was wearing her hair straight. She had the curls done away with for the moment. The result made her look very professional and dignified. Helena told her it was exactly how a Head of State should look. What amazed Helena most about Maril was how calm and collected the girl was. She was about to become the ruler of a planet of billions and she seemed unfazed by the whole process. Helena first thought she was calm because she had her whole life to prepare for this. After a while Helena realized she was most likely calm because this day seemed easy compared to the following day, when she would have to get married to someone she thought was a complete stranger. For a moment at least Helena was glad she had not spilled the beans about Rex, as it actually made the coronation easier for her.

Maril ran through her coronation speech with Helena, and in Helena's opinion delivered it almost flawlessly. Helena gave her a few pointers, but other than that told her to deliver it exactly as she had practiced it. Helena was especially impressed with the manner in which she was set to deliver the news of the new nation Tamaran was forming with a newly freed Thanagar. Rumors had been spreading around the planet some alliance was bound to be created, but she knew the populace wouldn't be quite prepared for the forming of a new nation and the idea that the Thanagarians were now their fellow countrymen. Maril did a great job in her speech of stating the reasons for the joining of the nations, but not making too much of it so that the citizenry would be too shocked by the unexpected change.

Maril even did a good job with the part of her speech that mentioned her marriage to Warhawk. When she delivered it to Helena there was no change in her emotional state when she mentioned the marriage. Helena wondered if this would stay true when she had to give the speech to the crowd, in front of her friends and family.

Helena left Maril so she could get ready herself. She finished up just as some servants had knocked on her door to escort her to the ceremony. She rode over with Connor and they were seated in their box with Dick, Barbara, Rcihie, Olivia, the twins, Ryand'r, and Shayera. Helena and Connor occupied the two seats behind Shayera and Ryand'r. Helena noticed Shayera staring across the pool at the box with the Thanagarian delegation in it. Rex was wearing the same body armor that hid all his features. Still, Helena was wondering if Shayera could tell Warhawk was really her son.

As the sun fell several soldiers started lighting the torches around the pool. Helena found it ironic an advanced civilization still used torches at times, but Maril told her it was part of the tradition that went back centuries. Helena was shocked the torches were able to illuminate the entire square.

A voice came over the loudspeakers and announced the arrival of the Royal Guard. At the end of the pool two columns of soldiers carrying spears marched out onto the square and headed for the pool. When the first soldier of each column reached the pool they lifted off a few feet above the ground and started floating over the pool. Each soldier did the same until the two columns had each side of the pool lined. In synchronized motion they turned in and held their spears up and at the saluting position.

The voice on the loudspeaker next announced the presence of the Tamaranian Head Bishop and Helena watched as he floated from the balcony of the large tower. He took a position at the head of the pool and waited.

After several moments of silence from the loudspeakers, the voice announced the coming of Princess Maril for her coronation. A slow serenade started emanating from the loudspeakers after everyone was told to look east. Helena looked in that direction and saw her floating in the sky towards the reflecting pool. As Maril moved closer Helena could make out the two servants behind her holding up her train. One of them was definitely Rheand'r, the other looked like Rheand'r's younger sister.

Maril flew high over the stands at the east end of the pool. Once she reached the edge of the pool she floated down, but stopped when she was hovering several feet above the ground. She floated out and over the pool, flying under the outstretched spears of the Royal Guard that lined the pool. When she reached the west end of the pool she stopped in front of the bishop.

Maril stood still as he went through the history of Tamaran and the power granted to him as X'Hal's representative to crown the royal ruler of the planet. When that was over Maril bowed before him as he grabbed the crown and held it over her head. He said the words proclaiming her queen and placed the crown upon her head. The crowd cheered as Maril lifted her head and started floating up in the sky. She stopped when her train could hang loose without touching the water. The servants who had been carrying it flew away, leaving her alone.

The voice came over the loudspeakers again and proclaimed her Queen Maril of Tamaran. The crowd cheered once again as Maril spread her arms and launched bolts from her hands. From afar her beams resembled fireworks as they exploded in the sky.

Maril flew up, flipped around and floated down onto the balcony for the Command Tower. When she was standing on the balcony she waved her arms up and down to silence the crowd. They complied and she began her address. She spoke of how she was humbled to be expected to lead the great nation of Tamaran. She pledged to rule in the manner of the great leaders of her family before her. She spoke of her life on Earth and her time fighting with the Justice League, and how she believed the lessons she had learned there would help make her a better ruler here on Tamaran. She spoke of the aspirations she had for her nation and the people under her rule. She moved into the part of her speech where she explained how in order to enhance the security of Tamaran they were going to have to form alliances with nations which shared the same security concerns as they did. She then moved on to saying that not only would they form alliances with other nations they would actually combine with one nation in particular; the nation of Thanagar which was declaring its independence from Gordania.

Mumbles and yells ran out from the crowd. While the leaks had helped prepare the populace for the news, many of them had been unwilling to truly believe. In particular, the ones who hated the news had been unwilling to believe it. Now that their queen revealed it to be true, they were making their displeasure known.

Maril stood slilently, watching the crowd and letting them have their say first. Helena knew she was waiting for the crowd to quiet on their own. The problem was, they were unwilling to comply. Helena was wondering if Maril would be able to gain control of the crowd. She was but a few minutes into her rule as queen, and she was already being tested.

Maril raised a hand in the air. Helena knew it was meant to silence the crowd, but wasn't sure the rest of the crowd would see it and obey. Helena expected her to issue a command; to make the crowd obey her. Instead of issuing a command, she fired several bolts from her hand into the sky. It was a powerful display of the kind of power she possessed that they lacked. The crowd received the message and became silent.

"Thank you," she said when almost everyone had quieted down. I know many of you will have problems and questions about the new nation we are forming with Thanagar." Helena was shocked as Maril was going off script and improvising now. Helena was fearful about what would happen, but hopeful Maril could pull it off. "I will admit to you, I shared many of these concerns when the proposition was first put forth to me. I was reluctant to put our nation through the disruptions such a union would cause; I was reluctant to wed our nation to a fledgling one just declaring its independence from an occupying force. However, if we are to stand for anything as a nation we must help other people in need, and who would need our help more than a nation trying to throw off the yoke of oppression. While the near future may be perilous as our two planets become one nation, the distant future holds the promise of a larger and more powerful nation for all of us that can give us more protection then we could ever have on our own."

Helena smiled broadly as she was amazed by what Maril had added. She looked around at the crowd and they all seemed mesmerized by what she said. Many of them were whispering to each other. Helena hoped they were talking positively about the case Maril had laid out to them for the new nation.

Maril seemed to notice the whispering and paused for a moment to let everyone speak to each other for a brief moment. Helena saw her glance over at the Thanagarian delegation. She was to mention her upcoming marriage next and was likely taking stock of Warhawk, knowing all eyes would be on him in a moment.

Maril took a deep breath and straightened her posture. Her voice sounded extra powerful when she continued her speech. "The hope of both me and the ruling administration of Thanagar is to create a new nation that will last a thousand years. We do not wish to create a nation that will be little more than a temporary alliance. In order to create a new, strong nation in which both Tamaranean and Thanagarian will share equally in power. . ." Maril paused and took another deep breath as she prepared herself for what she was about to reveal. "The Royal House of Tamaran will join with the Thanagarians. Tomorrow, I will wed Emperor Warhawk." Maril raised her hand in his direction. Helena looked across and saw Rex was unmoved by Maril's gesture with all the eyes in the area fixating on him. He sat stolid, continuing to stare at Maril.

Helena was shocked by the silence in the air. It appeared everyone was too stunned to say anything. Maril looked around and quickly continued speaking when she realized there was silence in the stands. "General Warhawk will become King of our combined nation, and will share power equally with me." Maril paused as she looked at Rex again. Helena knew Maril's speech well and knew this was the part where she was supposed to say she had spoken with him at length, and knew he shared the same hopes and dreams for their nation that she did. She was supposed to reassure the public his governing philosophy matched hers. It was all bullshit, the two of them had hardly communicated before agreeing to the marriage. Of course, the joining of the two nations had little to do with how well Maril got along with him. In a way, the BS didn't hurt too much and was most likely needed to placate the public.

Helena smiled a bit thinking about how Warhawk was really Rex. If Maril knew the truth she would know everything would work in terms of how the two would rule together. Maril and Rex had always seen eye to eye on absolutely everything.

"Tomorrow our nations will start a glorious new age together," Maril said. Helena was shocked as she had skipped the entire section of her speech on how much she had in common with Warhawk. Everyone else in the box with Helena appeared to notice as well and started fidgeting and whispering to whoever was near about it. "The near future may be rough and rocky, but we will persevere through any hardship and come out of this a stronger nation than ever before. Good night, and may X'hal bless Tamaran." With those final words Maril lifted off and flew to the palace. She left the audience behind to talk about what everything meant.